MEET THE HUDSY TEAM

HUDSY is delivered to you by a small group of locals dedicated to protecting and celebrating the Hudson Valley’s talent, diversity, and culture.

Angel

Angel Gates Fonseca Co-Founder & Executive Director of PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Angel was born and raised in the South Bronx before moving to the Hudson Valley in 2016. His career started in the music industry, but he later embarked on a new path to deepen his love for film, which has led to becoming Co-Founder of HUDSY. Growing up in NYC, Angel experienced the rich culture that exists within the boroughs' unique melting pot, allowing him to work seamlessly with individuals of all backgrounds. He is a passionate, award-winning filmmaker and content creator with expertise in a full range of media services from shooting, and producing, to editing and directing.

Laura

Laura Kandel Co-Founder & Executive Director of Operations, EVENTS & HUDSY TV

Laura, a Hudson Valley native and Co-Founder of HUDSY, has been working in the arts community and advocating for artists in the Hudson Valley and surrounding tri-state area for over 20 years. She was a Co-Director and Operations Manager at Artrider, a large-scale contemporary fine craft event production company, for over 16 years and worked as a Guest Relations Coordinator at the Woodstock Film Festival for 12 years. She has been on the Arts Mid-Hudson Ulster Arts Awards Committee for over six years and enjoys celebrating and lifting up the inspiring artistic community she was born into.

Natasha

Natasha Scully Lead Cinematographer

Natasha's passion for capturing stories was first developed in the classroom at SUNY Albany and during internships for two local papers, covering everything from student escorts to nightclub shootings in Troy. Having created elaborate stories in her head as a child growing up in Westchester County, videography became a clear way to educate and connect with the public emotionally while also providing a platform for those who are voiceless. Prior to Albany and solidifying her video journalism path later in graduate school, Natasha earned her GED and was on her way to pursue a degree in criminal justice at Dutchess Community College. With a camera in hand, she has spent time in South Africa reporting on forgotten freedom fighters of the apartheid era, xenophobia, and community change makers. She now produces meaningful shorts and has joined the ranks with HUDSY to amplify even more voices. If she's not filming, she can be found somewhere in the woods with her dog, Meeko. 
 
Chris G

Christopher Greffrath Editor

Christopher Greffrath is an independent filmmaker from the Hudson Valley. Having learned many aspects of the art, Christopher has focused on developing his skills as a writer, cinematographer, director, composer and editor, preparing himself to become the best filmmaker he can be. After receiving his first award for best film, A Good Deed, at the Hudson Valley Film Festival, Christopher continues to improve and achieve his goals of making high quality films, working tirelessly to ready himself for bigger projects in the future. Christopher recently has collaborated with HUDSY and worked his way onto the team, becoming the editor and creating a strong working relationship that will pave the way for future success.

Madeline

Madeline Friedman Graphic Designer

Madeline was raised in the Hudson Valley by professional artisans, finding herself fully immersed in a community of creatives following their dreams. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from Purchase College of Design with the “2018 Outstanding Senior Award," she immediately began her career as a graphic designer, working for Scholastic Inc. Madeline disliked the creatively-stifling corporate environment and began working for Artrider Productions, a contemporary fine craft show production company. While constantly inspired by the ever-changing world of digital design, she draws great inspiration from her foundation and passion for the art of cut paper. Madeline is extremely excited to be working for HUDSY; supporting and enriching the creative community in the Hudson Valley where she has called home her entire life. 

Rob Harris

Rob Harris Apprentice Program Leader, [email protected]

Rob Harris studied history at Stanford, interned with legendary documentary filmmaker Barbara Kopple, then went on to get a Masters in Journalism at UC Berkeley. After associate producing a PBS Frontline with Lowell Bergman, Rob spent five years as a staff video journalist for the New York Times, where he was part of teams that won two Pulitzers, one Emmy and a Dupont award.

The last few years Rob has split his time between teaching, editing, producing and managing digital media teams. Most recently Rob was digital media director at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies. Rob teaches video production at SUNY New Paltz's Department of Digital Media & Journalism.

Jesse Brown
Founder & Head of Strategy
Shawn

Jesse Brown Co-Founder

With over 20 years of media production and storytelling expertise, Jesse deeply believes in the power of place. In 2005, he helped to co-found a snowboarding magazine in Jackson Hole that still exists today, and has been a partner in a media production company as well as having built his own. Jesse brings a unique blend of skills from content creation to advertising sales and event production to the table, and often touts the mantra “our network is our net worth.” He loves to connect people and organizations in ways that help everyone realize their goals. Jesse transitioned away from HUDSY in June of 2023 to pursue other projects.

Shawn Strong Co-Founder

Shawn is the recipient of a partial Fine Arts scholarship to St. John’s University with a minor in Communications. He ran a music studio for over seven years before enrolling at SUNY Orange for Visual Communications with a concentration in TV Production, which led to being a filmmaker. Shawn started a digital media and video production company called Phanatiks Entertainment in 2011 and has shot numerous music videos and commercials, produced a creative arts web show, and most recently a series of Sit-In Talks discussing the social justice movement. He is a HUDSY co-founder but not currently involved in operations on a day-to-day basis, and serves on the Board of Directors at Arts Mid-Hudson.